740.00119 EW/10–2644: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 27—1:54 a.m.]
4107. ReDept’s 2521, October 25, midnight. Molotov, Clark Kerr and myself met this evening with the members of the Bulgarian Armistice delegation. Stainov, the head of the Bulgarian delegation, first read a lengthy and highly rhetorical declaration expressing abject contrition for the policies of former Bulgarian Governments, maintaining that these policies had never corresponded to the wishes of the people and claiming that the Bulgarian people had spontaneously gotten rid of the pro-German regime and had contributed to the Allied war effort. The declaration ended with protestations of readiness to wipe out past guilt with the shedding of blood in the struggle against the Nazis and to abide by the verdict of the Allies. The pronouncement contained a number of ingratiating references to the Soviet Union, Marshal Stalin and to Marshal Tito. I hope to obtain and transmit the full text tomorrow.25
Molotov then handed to Stainov the armistice terms. It was agreed that the Bulgarian delegation should have 24 hours for consideration and that we should meet again tomorrow at 10 p.m. to hear their reply.
General Gammell has not yet arrived in Moscow. I understand he is now in Tehran but has not proceeded from there because the Russions, on the ground they had not been notified that his accompanying staff officers would be Americans, have thus far refused to issue visas to them. The British Embassy which has been handling all arrangements [Page 479] for General Gammell’s arrival is now in correspondence with the Soviet Foreign Office about this delay and I have taken no steps in the matter.
It is my feeling that having consented to admit General Gammell with his accompanying staff and representatives of a joint command the Russians should be held to that agreement and I cannot see that any special request should be required from our Government on behalf of those officers who happen to be Americans.
Sent to Department as 4107, October 26, midnight, repeated to London and AmPolAd Caserta.
- Not printed.↩